NHTSA Complaint #10401083 — 2006 CADILLAC STS

A DEC '10 PRESS RELEASE (HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM) ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF 2005 - 2007 CADILLAC CTS' FOR A SPECIFIC AIR BAG ISSUE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PARAGRAPH 5 OF THE RELEASE READS IN PART "OWNERS OF CERTAIN OTHER 2005-2007 THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER INCIDENT RATES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE REPAIRS FOR THE ISSUE FOR UP TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES." I DRIVE A 2006 STS (VS CTS) AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN 'OWNERS LETTER.' THE CAR, HOWEVER DISPLAYS THE EXACT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RELEASE. THE INDICATIONS OCCURRED NO MORE THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE 12/10 PUBLICATION. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE RESULTED IN REFUSALS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIRS TO MY CAR. ONE CSR OFFERED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PAID FOR SHOULD I PICK UP THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS AND THE ERROR BE EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL SPECIFIES. A COMPLAINT FILED IN APRIL WITH THE WI DEPT OF AG, TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS RESULTED IN A CALL TODAY (5/16) FROM A REP OF GM'S BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER ADVISING THAT THEY WILL AGAIN REFUSE MY REQUEST BECAUSE "...THE STS MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL." THERE WAS NO REPLY WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE STS HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN TESTING WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION PRIOR TO THE RECALL. SHE REITERATED THAT CADILLAC MAY PAY FOR REPAIRS AFTER DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN MY CAR WOULD FAIL IF NEEDED. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE TWO MODELS SHARE A SIGNIFICANT-ENOUGH LEVEL OF ENGINEERING, PARTS AND ASSEMBLY THAT CADILLAC SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. CONSIDERING (1) THE ISSUE ISN'T A POTENTIAL PROBLEM BUT ACTUALLY EXISTS IN MY CAR, AND (2) THEIR REFERENCE OF "...CERTAIN OTHER 2005-2007 MODELS" INDICATES THEIR/YOUR SUSPICION THAT THE ISSUE CROSSES OVER TO OTHER MODELS, I FIND THEIR POSITION THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS UNACCEPTABLE. MY REQUEST IS THAT CADILLAC DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY AIR BAG ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE. I INTEND TO PURSUE THE ISSUE THROUGH THE STATE AND OTHER MEANS. UPDATED 05/24/11 *TR